The Geriatrics Center, a division of the Department of Geriatrics at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), seeks volunteers to participate in its new Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). The HELP program, used by hospitals nationwide, is based on the results of research conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine, which found that delirium can be reduced by 40 percent through interventions.
HELP is an innovative way to improve the inpatient hospital experience of older patients by utilizing volunteers to interact with them on a regular basis. The goals of the program are to maintain cognitive and physical functioning throughout hospitalization, as well as assist in the transition from the hospital to the community, and to reduce re-admission.
Volunteers will need to commit to one three-hour shift per week of either: Morning, 10 a.m. -1 p.m.; Afternoon, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; or Evening, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. In addition, there will be two days of specialized program training.
The Geriatrics Center at HUMC specializes in the evaluation and treatment of older adults. It provides both a comprehensive assessment of an elder’s healthcare needs and a targeted program designed to address those needs. It offers both a primary care service and a program of coordination of care arranged together with an individual’s primary care physician.
If you are interested in volunteering for the HELP Program, please contact Nadine Benoit, program coordinator, at 201-996-2503 to set-up an interview.
If you are interested in the Geriatrics Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, please call 201-336-8760. For more information about the medical center, please visit www.humc.com.
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